The four-second delay in the Chandrayaan-3 launch ensured safe passage for the spacecraft on its journey to the moon without the looming threat of collision.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made a soft-landing near the south pole of the moon, lifted off four seconds late to avoid hitting a piece of space debris, the ISRO said in a recent report.
Video – https://youtu.be/i3wc7eq-mPk
According to the Indian Situational Space Awareness Report (ISSAR) for 2023, the nominal lift-off of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, carrying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, had to be delayed by four seconds based on the Collision on Launch Avoidance (COLA)…
The launch of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission witnessed a strategic delay of four seconds, a move aimed at ensuring the safe trajectory of the spacecraft by sidestepping potential space debris hazards. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently disclosed that this precise timing adjustment played a crucial role in safeguarding the mission from potential collisions.
As outlined in the Indian Situational Space Awareness Report (ISSAR) for 2023, the scheduled lift-off of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, carrying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, was purposefully postponed by four seconds based on Collision on Launch Avoidance (COLA) considerations. This adjustment was deemed necessary to prevent close encounters between a debris object and the injected satellites, which shared overlapping operational altitudes.
Video – https://youtu.be/i3wc7eq-mPk
The issue of space debris has become increasingly pertinent over the past six decades of space exploration. With approximately 56,450 tracked objects in orbit, of which around 28,160 remain actively monitored by the US Space Surveillance Network (USSSN), the potential for collisions poses a significant risk to space missions.
Chandrayaan-3, comprising the lunar lander module Vikram and rover Pragyaan, embarked on its journey from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on July 14 of the previous year. Notably, on August 23, 2023, India made history by executing a successful soft-landing near the moon’s south pole—an achievement marking India as the first country to accomplish such a feat.
The meticulous four-second delay in Chandrayaan-3’s launch was instrumental in ensuring a safe trajectory to the moon, mitigating the potential threat of collision with space debris. This precautionary measure aligns with ISRO’s commitment to the safety and success of its missions.
Video – https://youtu.be/i3wc7eq-mPk
Moreover, the ISSAR-2023 report sheds light on additional instances where ISRO had to adjust launch schedules to avoid space debris encounters. For instance, the launch of Singapore’s DS-SAR satellite onboard the PSLV-C56 mission and another Singaporean satellite, TeLEOS-2, necessitated similar delays based on Collision on Launch Avoidance (COLA) analyses.
The report further highlights ISRO’s proactive stance in mitigating space debris risks through 23 collision avoidance maneuvers (CAMs) conducted in 2023. These maneuvers, comprising 18 for satellites in low earth orbit and five for those in Geostationary orbit, exemplify ISRO’s dedication to ensuring the safety and integrity of its space assets.
Video – https://youtu.be/i3wc7eq-mPk
While the ISSAR-2023 report indicates a substantial volume of close approach alerts received by ISRO from the US Space Command, thorough reassessment and analysis of orbital data enabled effective risk management, ultimately averting critical collisions.
In conclusion, ISRO’s strategic delay of Chandrayaan-3’s launch by four seconds underscores the agency’s meticulous planning and commitment to navigating the challenges posed by space debris, thereby advancing India’s space exploration endeavors with precision and foresight.
Video – https://youtu.be/i3wc7eq-mPk
